< > APPEARANCE / MORPHOLOGY: MEASUREMENT AND WEIGHT with literature reports for the Ferret - Mustela putorius furo: Use sub-contents list below, or simply scroll down the page to view findings.

MEASUREMENT AND WEIGHT- Editorial Comment

Editorial Comment

LENGTH
Adult: 

• Males about 38 cm long, females 35 cm (including the tail)

Newborns: --

HEIGHT
Adults and sub-adults: --
Juveniles: --

WEIGHT
Adult: 

• Males weigh 1,000 - 2000 g; females 600 - 900 g.  
• Higher weights in captive ferrets reflect fat deposition. 
• Note: Body weight may vary seasonally by as much as 20% in an individual ferret over the year, with the maximum in winter.

Newborns: About 8 - 12 g at birth.

GROWTH RATE

• Ferrets grow rapidly, doubling their birth weight by five days, 10 times their birth weight by three weeks and reaching adult weight by 16 weeks.

(References are available in detailed literature reports below)

Length

Adult

• On average, male is 38 cm, female is 35 cm. (B626.2.w2)
• 44 - 46 cm nose to tail tip. (B627.1.w1)
• About 15 inches not including the tail. (J495.21.w5)
• Ferrets have increased in size by 20% over the last 20 years in the USA (B627.8.w8)
• Males start to be significantly longer than females from the ninth week. (B627.8.w8)

Neonate / Young

• --

Height

Adult

• --

[Height = shoulder height]

Neonate / Young

• --

Weight

Adult

• Males weigh 1,000 - 2000 g; females 600 - 900 g.  
• Higher weights in captive ferrets reflect fat deposition. 
• Note: Body weight may vary seasonally by as much as 20% in an individual ferret over the year, with the maximum in winter.

Data:

• Male 1000-2000 g, female 600-900 g (B626.2.w2, B631.17.w17);
• Female about 750-1,500g, males 1,500 - 2,000 g (B627.8.w8)
• Wild (feral) ferrets do not weigh more than 1,500 g; higher weights in captive ferrets reflect fat deposition. (B627.8.w8)
• Note: Seasonal weight variations mean that the body weight may vary by as much as 20% in an individual ferret over the year (maximum in winter with extra fat stored). (B631.17.w17)
• At Pukepuke Lagoon, New Zealand, male weights were mean 1,318 g in winter, 886 g in summer. (J208.20.w2)
  • At Pukepuke Lagoon, New Zealand, males showed a peak of physical condition in August, with a decline thereafter associated with breeding activities including scent laying and fighting in territorial defence. (J208.20.w2)
• At Pukepuke Lagoon, New Zealand, female weights were mean 505 g, with no obvious summer-winter difference; Over a period of January to June 1972, weights of adult females were lower than those of juvenile females: 420-600 g, mean 500 g versus 375-690 g, mean 565 g. It appeared that females were in a poor body condition for an extended period, possibly associated with high population density. (J208.20.w2)

Neonate / Young 

• 8-12 g (B626.2.w2); average 6 - 12 g, sometimes up to 20 g (B627.8.w8); 7-10g. (J495.21.w5)

Growth Rate

• In week 1, 2.5 - 3.0 g increase in weight daily, doubling birth weight by five days and tripling by 10 days, to average 30 g. Weight gain is about 4g per day in the second week and 6g per day in the third week. By 21 days, the kits should be 10 times their natal weight, with males at least 100g. By 3-5 weeks the broader heads and larger size of males becomes visible. By 5 - 6 weeks, females 180 - 200 g, males 230 - 250 g. (B627.8.w8)
• One week old, 30 g; two weeks old, 60-70 g; three weeks old, over 100 g. (B338.26.w26)
• Three weeks old, 100g, six weeks old, 300g, four months, adult weight (700-900 g for females, 1,100 - 1,300 g males). ()
• By six weeks (weaning): to 300-500 g (B626.5.w5)
• Growth rate is steady to about 4-5 weeks then rapid to produce adult weight by about 16 weeks. (B627.8.w8)
• About 300 - 450 g by weaning at 6-8 weeks. (B627.8.w8)
• Males start to be significantly heavier than females from the seventh week. (B627.8.w8)